New York Passes New Abortion Law
New York has finally decriminalized abortion and has decided to protect access to abortion even if Roe Versus Wade is overturned.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill that protects abortion rights in the state. And it was on the 46th anniversary of Roe V. Wade, the law to protect women’s access to abortion if the historic case is overturned.
Governor Andrew Cuomo had the following to say about the bill called New York’s Reproductive Health Act “Today we are taking a giant step forward in the hard-fought battle to ensure a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her own personal health, including the ability to access an abortion. With the signing of this bill, we are sending a clear message that whatever happens in Washington, women in New York will always have the fundamental right to control their own body,”
The new law will not only ensure access to abortions but it will also remove abortions from the state’s criminal code. This would in turn protect doctors and medical professionals who perform abortions from being criminally prosecuted.
The new law also covers late-term abortions. Under the new law, abortions can be performed after 24 weeks if the fetus isn’t viable or if the mothers life is in danger.
Cuomo had the following to say about this: “It’s about the health and safety of the mother and it’s always been the point where the conservatives wave the flag, they want to roll back Roe v. Wade — this is not gray here it’s black and white.”
The State Assembly speaker Carl Heastie had the following to say about the new law: “While the administration in Washington continues its assault on women’s reproductive rights, the Assembly Majority remains dedicated to fighting for a woman’s right to choose. The bills we passed today ensure New Yorkers can control their family planning decisions, have access to the reproductive healthcare they need and will not be discriminated against for their choices. With our new partners in the Senate, we have finally seen this legislation pass both houses and signed into law on the anniversary of the historic Roe v. Wade decision,”
Of course not everyone is happy with the new law stating concerns about if the fetus dies as a result of an assault on the woman there would be no prosecution. With statements like “Being assaulted and losing your baby is not a woman’s choice,”
Roe V. Wade is a law that came into being in the 1960’s because one-sixth of all pregnancy and childbirth related deaths were because of illegal abortions. But thanks to Roe it has become a safe procedure anyone can have access to.
This is a good step forward in my eyes, what do you think?